Almost on cue

Posted on April 24, 2010

“What I do have a problem with though is what I see as an attempt to take the politics out of feminism. An attempt to present feminism as something that encompasses all and everyone, no matter what their ideological position on anything, and in particular no matter what their ideological position on the things that actually matter, the things that actually make a difference to women’s lives…”

Ellie Levenson. Interviewed as part of the “What is feminism in 2010″ special report in the May edition of Company magazine:

“Unlike many of the feminists who went before, I believe that, as long as women’s decisions are their own, then they can call themselves a feminist whatever those decisions are.”

Head. Meet desk.

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This is true Cath. I just decided to have boiled eggs for breakfast, a feminist decision if ever there was one. Unlike patriarchal breakfasts of old, this nutrient rich meal means I am fully equipped to fight patriarchy, and there’s a minimum of washing up. And it fits the most important criteria of all of feminism, which is that a woman somewhere, likes doing it.

that’s the problem i have with this individualistic take on feminism.
there are many moments in her book where she says something like ‘ my friend takes pole dancing classes and it’s her choice so it’s feminist’ (as an example). and i would turn the page waiting for a discussion on what that statement meant – with none forthcoming. because it’s all very well saying that a choice is feminist because a woman chose to do it, but we don’t live in a cultural vacuum, and with a lot of the areas she addresses in the book and quiz, the behavoiur is just that. the questions just aren’t asked. and then of course, that statement means being anti-choice is a feminist choice. etc etc.
feminism, to me, is about making life better and more equal for women all over the world, from all backgrounds. it is about fighting oppression on all sides. it isn’t about making life better for me, just me and only me. and people like me.

This is what happens when identity politics starts to eat itself: you get all of the identity and none of the politics.

Hahaha! Thanks Mary Tracy9. The image of a snake eating its tail sprang to mind! And that’s exactly what’s happening: CIRCULARITY. Which is the bane of my existence and the root of my mental instability.

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